if i runaway can my mom call the cops?

[Guest]

Ok this is not a reply but I need to talk to someone. I want to live with my dad and my plan is too runaway. If the cops are called will they ask my why I ran away?? If I ran away then could I get to live with my dad

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We’re sorry to hear that your situation has gotten to the point where you feel like you need to leave. We would be happy to talk to you about running away and what that could look like and how to do it safely as well as other options you may have. To answer your question, the cops will ask why you ran away, but in most cases they will return you back home regardless of what you tell them. We can’t say for sure whether or not you would be able to live with your dad, but if you want to talk more about your situation then we could give you a better idea of what could happen. If you are interested in having that conversation or talking about what other options there might be, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

If I run away can my mom call the cops on me plz help me answer the question

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS. This is a really great questions to ask and run away laws can get a bit confusing. Generally speaking, if you are under the age of 18 in most states, (21 for Mississippi and 19 in Alabama/Nebraska) and you leave home without permission then your legal guardian (your parent) can report you as a runaway. Running away is not illegal, but your mom can have the police return you home.

We are here 24/7 to be a support for you while you deal with this challenging situation. You can reach out by phone or chat anytime if you would like to talk more about your situation.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

what happens if i run away because i'm abused

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting NRS. From what you shared, home has not been safe for you. You deserve to be treated in a way that makes you feel cared for and abuse of any kind is never okay.

Generally speaking, if you leave home without the permission of your parents/guardian, you can be reported as a runaway. Running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This means that it is something that you cannot do because of your age and your parents can have the police return you home.

Since you mentioned that there is abuse going on, you do have the option to make an abuse report. A child abuse report can get a social worker involved to help. This can be a scary decision to make and you do not need to make it alone. If you want to know more about the reporting process or you would like to start the report, you can call the national child abuse hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or go to https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/. Additionally we are here by phone and chat 24/7 to listen and help.

We truly want to be a support for you while you think through your next steps. Please do not hesitate to reach out anytime by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org if you would like to talk more about your situation.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi i want to runaway when is the eight time to go

[ccsmod15]

Hey, thanks for contacting us. We never tell anyone what to do, but if you want to give us a call or chat with us we can explore your situation with you further and help you decide what you'd like to do. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY and our chatroom can be found via the portal on our main website: www.1800runaway.org. We are confidential and here 24/7. Since you posted in this topic you may also be wondering if your mom or guardian can call the police if you do decide to leave home without permission. Just so you know, running away isn't a crime but it is a status offense like breaking curfew. Your mom can file a runaway report with the police if you are under 18 and leave home without permission. We hope this information helps and we hope to hear from you soon.

Stay safe!
NRS

[Guest]

If my mom gave me the choice to leave and I do; and I cross state lines, but she calls me in as a runaway, what can I do if/when the cops find me? I'm 17 if that helps.

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today. That sounds really frustrating that your mom is giving you the choice to leave, but then calls you in as a runaway. Unfortunately, it is true that you can stay anywhere safe with her permission, but if she is filing you as a runaway, it is like she is taking back that permission she gave you. Here at NRS, we truly want to be a support for you during this difficult time.

If you are listed as a runaway at 17 years old, it is possible that police could return you home if found. It is also possible that they could take lesser actions like doing a safety check to make sure you are okay or they might not actively look for you since you are close to being a legal adult. If police find you, it could help to be upfront with them and to let them know what your mom said to you about leaving. If there is anything at home that is making you unsafe, you might also let them know about what is going on at home. How police respond to 17 year old runaway situations depends on the local department's protocols. You might reach out to your local police to learn more about how they respond.

Please do not hesitate to call or chat us for additional assistance, we are always here for you.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

I am planning on running away and I am 14 years old. When I was younger my older sibling went through the same thing and my mom called the cops to search for her . So let’s say I’m out and about on the streets and there cops find me, if I run away from the cops will I go to jail.

[ccsmod10]

Thanks for reaching out to NRS. We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what's going on.

While we’re not legal experts, we do have some basic knowledge on that area. 18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home. If you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once you are filed as a runaway can vary a lot from state to state and even city to city so we cannot predict exactly what would happen in your case. Generally speaking, if you encounter a police officer while reported as a runaway, you will likely be returned home. One way to find out the laws in your area, is by calling your local police non-emergency number. You can anonymously ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth, and what happens if youth refuse to go home. If you’re not comfortable making that call by yourself, we do offer conference calling, so we can make that call together.

If you want to talk more in depth about what is going on and find out what resources are available to you, do not hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or start a chat with us at www.1800runaway.org. We are 24/7 and confidential. We are here to listen and here to help.
Best of Luck,
NRS

[Guest]

im 16 years old, i think my mother has Borderline personality disorder, my mother is a single parent of 4 kids. my older sister who is a legal adult has been saying for years my mom needs mental help and so has my grandma and most people that know my mom long enough. She screams and yells, is a compulsive liar and tells me im evil. she blames me for all her problems and expects me to take care of my two little sisters and then claims i do nothing for her and that im selfish. She has destroyed all my friendships by texting them and telling them that if they ever contact me again she will file charges and has even gotten a restraining order against my best friend because she didnt like her. ive been thinking about emancipation but i do not have a job as she will not allow me to get one. my older sister has told me to move in with my grandma who has told me i am welcome to do so but my mother wont allow me to. Does this count as emotional abuse? If i were to runaway and go live with my grandma would the police arrest her? If my mother were to call the cops, which she would, could i tell them im being emotionally abused and ask that i be allowed to live with my grandma? My mom tells everyone that im the crazy one and that i have a mental and drug problem because she found out ive smoked pot before when in reality the only reason i would be insane is because she makes me feel that way. Im currently grounded and have my phone and car taken away and ive been told "im never going out of the house again and she will homeschool me if she has to". i cant do this anymore ive been putting up with it my whole life. ive watched her do this to my older sister and her own mother, my grandma, while making herself look like the victim. i dont want to have to call DCF as i know my mom will lie her way out of trouble just as she has done in the past when they have been called. im not a failure, im not evil, im not selfish, all i want is to be able to graduate and go to college and have a life and to prove to her that i do have a future, since she loves to tell me i dont, but i cannot do any of that while living with her. i have no joy in life at all, i NEED to move in with my grandma but i will not subject her to being arrested for trying to help me. plz respond

[ccsmod15]

Hey there thanks for reaching out, it seems like you have gone through so much in your life and you are totally right to say that you aren’t being evil or selfish just for wanting to be healthy emotionally and feel supported by those around you. Everyone deserves support from their family and a chance to grow up and become their best person so its understandable that you want to get out of a situation like this that can better the odds of your success since you can focus on school etc.
In answer to your questions, we aren’t legal experts so we can’t say for sure if this meets the legal definition of emotional abuse, however your mother’s actions are clearly meant to cut you down rather than to raise you up. If you did runaway your mom would have a right to file a runaway report and contact the police. This is a status offence and if/when police find you, you can claim that there is emotional abuse at home if you wanted but that would prompt a DCF investigation before you are brought home.

Hopefully this information is helpful, if you want to talk more in depth or have other questions you can call us at 1-800-786-2929 or start a chat with us at www.1800runaway.org. We are 24/7 and confidential.

[Guest]

my mom has mentally and verbally abused me for the last 6 years and threatens to beat me because i'm a lesbians and my friend don't wanna come over because of her . can she call the cops if i'm 18 ? i live in georgia.

[ccsmod3]

Thanks for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. You made a great first step to finding the help that you may need. It sounds like you are going through a lot and the people around you are not being supportive. You deserve to be treated with respect, to experience acceptance and to feel safe.

We want you to know that you are strong for having gone through so much already. It is perfectly okay to deviate from what others or the common population believe to be “normal”. You’re bravery and resilience is so admirable. You are so strong for having gone through so much without having the acceptance that you do deserve for just being you. Remember that you are not alone. If you ever want to talk more about what you are experiencing or get additional support we are here 24/7 at 1800-RUNAWAY or our live chat service. The GLBT National Hotline at 1888-843-4564 is another option to gain great support from those that are familiar with the issues and experiences of those that are also a part of the LGBTQ community. You can access their website link bellow to utilize all the other possibly useful resources they have to offer: http://www.glbthotline.org/

You mentioned that you were considering the options that may be best for you. By all means, if you do fear for your safety either now or in the future, do not hesitate to take the necessary steps to regain your safety. This may mean calling the authorities or possibly reporting the things you may be experiencing. Other options to think about may be other family members, friends, or a trusted adults that would be able to provide you with support or a safe place to stay. It is great that you thinking ahead. Should you feel like leaving home is best, it may be a good idea to think about how you will provide necessities for yourself such as food, clothing, showers, healthcare and other basic needs. You may want to also consider how your parent’s will react to you leaving without permission. We are not legal experts here, but typically as a minor (under the age of 1 you need permission from your parents to leave home. It is not illegal to runaway, but it would mean that your parents could file a runaway report with the police. This is usually done in an effort to try to return you home as the police are required to do so.

If you can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or reach out through Live Chat we can try to find some youth shelters that may be near your city and state by utilizing our database of resources. We can also try to call out to shelters with you or on your behalf to advocate for you.

Stay Strong,
NRS

[Guest]

If my mom told me to leave so i did then she called me in for a runaway can she do that?

[ccsmod5]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to us today. We are always available to help in any way we can.

It sounds like the situation with your mom calling the cops on you must have been really stressful and frustrating to go through. Unfortunately, since she is your legal guardian, she can take away her permission for you to be away from home. Which seems really unfair but is how the law works. We would like to talk more about your home situation with mom, so reach out if you’d like to!

Please give us a call at (800) RUNAWAY or chat with us on our website www.1800runaway.org . We are open 24/7 so we are always available for you! Stay safe and thanks again for reaching out.

Best, NRS

[Guest]

I'm 15 year old female, I live in a household that is only my mom and I. I want to move out because my mom verbally and mentally to the point I can't stand hearing her name or voice without it making me upset or angry. I'm not in any physical danger from her, but I don't know how much longer I can handle living with her. I have a friend that said would let me move in with them, but I can't just ask my mom to let me move out because she would say no. There are no family members I can move in with because they are just all the same as she is. I don't know what to do. My friend lives in a different state, but we are really close and have known each other for a long time.
I really just want to get out of my house because I can't stand it. I really, really can't.

[ccsmod4]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline.

It sounds like you are in a tough situation at home with your mom.
Sometimes things become so frustrating it’s hard to figure out what steps to take to make change. On one hand it seems that you have a friend who says you can come stay with them but on the other hand your mom probably would not agree to let you go.

Your friend sounds very supportive of your situation.
Having a space to vent and explore options may often bring out a solution previously not thought of. NRS is here to listen and here to help.
We understand how difficult it must have been to speak about what has been going on and how it makes you feel.
You are very brave for doing so.
NRS would like you to know we are here to support you at this difficult time.
We can best help by phone or chat. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.


Let us know how we might help, please contact us at 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) orwww.1800Runaway.org (live chat).


Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I run away from home can the police make me come back

[ccsmod3]

Hello there,

Thank you for reaching out on our forum. It sounds like you’ve already run away from home and are wondering if the police can make you go back. We are not legal experts here; however, our general understanding is that if/when police come across a runaway/missing juvenile, they will try to reunite them with their parent/guardian/family. We’d be happy to talk to you more about this and invite you to our Live Chat so we can have a one-on-one conversation. To get started with Live Chat, please go to https://na0messaging.icarol.com/Cons...d=254&cc=en-US. We hope you’re safe and wish you the best of luck!

-NRS

[Guest]

if I run away and stay at my friend's house and it's safer than my house will the police still take me home or will they take me somewhere else?

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did. It sounds like things at your house are difficult and stressful for you. It isn’t fair to feel unsafe in your home, and we are sorry that you are going through this.

Your message is very short, and we hope you will reach out again by phone or chat so that we can hear more about your situation. The plain answer to your question is that the police would probably bring you home, unless you refused and said that you are not safe there. They would then probably call social services for emergency shelter. That is one scenario of what could happen.

The best way for us to help you is by listening to you and helping you to figure some options to help in your situation. We are here for you or the youth 24/7 either by calling 1-800-786-2929 or via live chat through www.1800runaway.org

We are confidential and are here 24/7 to listen and help.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

I am going to runaway but have no where to go I am 16 and can’t stay at home anymore and have no one to take me in if I leave

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
Thanks for reaching out to NRS, it seems like you are going through a lot at home right now and are looking for options to stay safe if you decide to leave home. You deserve a safe place to call home, instead of somewhere you feel trapped in and want to escape from.
Generally shelters may be able to accept you and provide a safe place for you to stay with a roof over your head. There are also longer-term places called Transitional Living Places that are designed more to get you on your feet and have case managers to help you still go to school or get a job. If you want help finding a shelter you can go to https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/ or chat/call us and we can see what options there are in your area.
If you have more questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat using our online chat function at 1800runaway.org.

[Guest]

Hi, I’m 12 and I was wondering is it possible to run away not that it matters but I come into a Hispanic household and Christianity not a lot of problem came a long until probably a year ago my mom started to compare me with my older cousin saying “look at your older cousin she knows how to cook every time I go to her house she all dressed up she cleans the house and you’re always upstairs doing nothing but just with your phone.” Which hurts because I feel like she adores her more uhm I do have two older siblings but my sister is the oldest out of my brother she’s 25 now and he’s 19 and I’m the youngest. We were never spoiled we never took advantage out of anyone or money when we were young my sister did take care of my brother and me when we were young basically my parents love her more because she was successfully and her life was organized my brother he did a lot of dumb stuff he crashed two cars one was my mom truck and the other one was his car and he would of sneaked out a lot and he still does but not often anymore.My parents don’t let me out of the house I’m always inside my dad got after me because I went to my backyard Last year I did went out to go to the park which is like 6 minutes away just for an hour my mom caught me and when I was in her truck she did pull my ear and whenever we got back home she did made me kneel down on my knees and hit me with the belt I just stayed there for about 30-40 minutes on my knees not to mention my grandma lives with us too she can’t walk on her right leg and she can’t move her left arm either so my mom keeps telling her basically yelling to practice moving her arm and try to walk but she does go to the restroom and just sits there for almost 8-9 hours but only stands up to go to the restroom and when she comes back she does leave the doors open and that makes my mom mad but just to keep it kinda short she’s just tired of her but she does yell everyday at her and me she did told me about she won’t make the same mistake as she did to my brother she wanted to put him into those houses but kinda like jail? So they can teach there child a lesson or something but she didn’t and she did say if you do the same thing as your brother I’m going to put you there which is just like what but okay. This year in quarantine she hasn’t changed for a bit she always will keep yelling she doesn’t like me to wear comfortable clothes such as hoodies,sweatpants,baggy clothes that are suppose to be for boys she wants me to wear dresses fancy stuff all that which I do but I just wear them for parties. I don’t wanna day one time but it usually happens but she was screaming my name to go downstairs but I kept telling I will give me a few minutes because I was trying to stop my crying and tried to cover the parts that were red with concealer so I eventually went downstairs and she wanted me to prepare food for my dad but when my dad came home she told me she don’t like me for wearing hoodies a lot and she tried to take it off which I didn’t let because I wasn’t wearing a shirt under and again I was wearing a hoodie and everyone was there my brother my dad my grandma and her she told me to make coffee for my dad and my grandma so I did and she got after for wearing a hoodie she did grab my hoodie from the back but I put it back on she slapped her hand on my head two time just because I didn’t want to take off my hoodie I can’t talk English to her or she’ll get mad and keeps telling speak Spanish and I do understand Spanish I just don’t know how to tell someone my feelings because I’ll feel guilty and I’m not comfortable of telling them I did try to tell them what’s been happening to me and you know about them too but my dad thought it was because someone was telling me stuff about me through text he grabbed my phone and checked every text message and I had to translate it which I have texted my girl best friend taht I wanted to kill myself and run away I’m so thankful that I was able to begged him to stop reading cause I’m not comfortable looking through my messages even though I have like 4 friends that I text my feelings to and what’s been happening my dad whenever I’m not responding or to make him coffee he’ll knock on my door hard to see what I’m doing in there which half the time is watching anime or just straight up sleeping he will grab the door knob and shake it and it did got worse because every time I hear him going upstairs I would put a chair or something heavy in front of it he did take off my door knob one time for like an hour or two he did the same with my brother but he bought one because he bought it and has money he switched my door knob that didn’t have a lock so I always put something heavy in front of it I convinced him too put my other door knob back he did and you know it got loose for shaking it to hard he fixed it but whenever I get him mad for a little thing he would lock my door so I would be downstairs I remember this one time he got mad at me for not washing the dishes and grabbed the belt and hit me on my leg but I think the point thing on the belt made a mark and it turned purple it didn’t hurt but it looked super bad and he kept apologizing which I stayed quiet about it I did told my brother what I wanted to mill myself and run away but when he told my parents because some words I can’t say or how to say then my mom said she’s always upstairs she doesn’t do nothing and stuff like that which I do help her with something everyday and then she started to cry and said she was a bad mom but she did became a lil nice for about 1-2 weeks and it got back too telling every single thing I do and whenever she says something that’s wrong I would correct her and I was being honest to her which I think she didn’t like it and she’ll tell me why would you stay up all night and I’ll tell her the reason why I stay up at night is because no one bothers me is all quiet and screaming or loud music I been thinking of running away for about two months now but I don’t know how to begin I just want to be alone in my quiet room with no yelling idk if I need help I just want someone to help me out that’s all.

I’m so sorry if this is long I really do

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thanks so much for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. We’re so sorry that things have been so difficult between you and your family at home. It sounds like everything that’s been going on with your siblings and your parents has been pretty overwhelming and it’s been hard to find peace at home. It was brave of you to reach out for help, and we’ll do our best to share resources that might be helpful for you as you decide what to do. Leaving home is a big decision, and if this is something you’re thinking of doing, we would encourage you to consider factors like where you might go, how long you’d be gone, and how you would keep yourself safe while you’re away. Whatever you decide, know that we are here for you.

It sounds like there’s been a lot of verbal and physical altercations at home between you and your parents. It’s not ok for anyone to be aggressive with you, and if you are feeling unsafe at home, organizations like Child Help can help you identify the nearest child protective services agency to you. You can reach them at 1.800.442.4453 and www.childhelp.org if you want to file an abuse report. In your message, you mention texting with your friend about wanting to hurt yourself. We want you to know that there are organizations like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline that are there to listen and support you. You can reach them at 1.800.273.8255 and www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org . You’re not alone, and organizations like us at the National Runaway Safeline, Child Help and The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, are all here to support you and help you stay safe.

If you have questions, or you need to talk about your options, we hope you will reach out to us by phone or chat. You can reach us 24/7 by phone at 1.800.786.2929, or via chat by visiting www.1800runaway.org . We’ll do our best to help you explore your options and try our best to share options that will help you stay safe regardless of what you decide to do. We’re here to listen, here to help. Stay safe!

-NRS